BA Psychodynamic Practice

Formerly BA Therapeutic Care

Are you fascinated by relationships and personality development, or intrigued by people’s behaviour? What causes you to act as you do and what can lead to emotional or psychological difficulties? Do you want to learn about and develop ways of helping those who are in need? Laying the foundations for a career in a caring profession, whether education, health or social care our course will give you a solid basis in psychodynamic thinking, child and adult development, and the dynamics of therapeutic interventions in organisations.

Whether you want to work with troubled infants in the nursery, children with emotional and behavioural difficulties in schools or children’s homes, adults in social care and mental health settings, the elderly or those with learning difficulties our degree leaves you fully prepared to make a difference. We equip you with what you need to take up a post in a range of education, health and social care settings. Includes a Placement in each year of study. There are no exams in this course.

Topics include:

• Child, adolescent and adult development
• Attachment theory
• Working with groups
• Psychodynamic counselling
• Anxiety and depression
• Trauma and violence
• Psychosis
• Looked after children
• Eating disorders
• Creating effective learning environments
• Organisational dynamics and systems theory
• Therapeutic communities
• Psychodynamic interventions in non-clinical settings

Through the inclusion of an observational and work placement, giving you invaluable experience within your chosen sector, this course enables you to put theory and practice together as well as a gradual entry into the world of employment. We help you to explore and understand the kind of role you are preparing for so you graduate with a valuable balance of theoretical understanding and useful practical experience – rare qualities giving you the edge needed for to successfully gain employment upon graduation.

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course.

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university

Our expert staff

This course is led by Dr Manuel Batsch who is a researcher and a practitioner. After completing his PhD at UCL, Manuel Batsch pursued his research on the role of theory in psychoanalytic clinic, publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals.

In parallel, Manuel Batsch works as a Honorary Psychotherapist at Camden Psychotherapy Unit and he is undertaking training at the Institute of Psychoanalysis.

Amongst the lecturers teaching in the course are:

Dr Chris Nicholson (Head of the Department of Psychosocial and Psychodynamic Studies) Chris Nicholson has more than 15 years’ experience working in residential childcare and therapeutic communities. He sits on the Advisory Board for Children and Young People at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Therapeutic Communities sections, and regularly speaks at both national and international conferences.

Dr Poul Rohleder is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist working in a private practice in central London. Poul Rohleder is a board member of the British Psychoanalytic Council, and member of the task group on sexual and gender diversity within psychoanalysis at the British Psychoanalytic Council.

Dr Raluca Soreanu is a Psychoanalyst in private practice, effective member of the Circulo Psicanalitico do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, a member of the College of Psychoanalysts in the UK and an Academic Associate of The Freud Museum. Raluca Soreanu’s work is at the intersection between psychoanalytic theory and social theory. She has published numerous monographs and peer-reviewed articles.

Chris Tanner has worked as a senior manager and company director in both public and private sector organisations. He devised and runs a range of consultancy, leadership development and staff facilitation interventions with organisations in the human service sector and beyond.

Dr Deborah Wright is a trained Psychotherapist who previously worked as a Deputy Manager, staff trainer and training consultant in residential care for people with learning difficulties and mental health problems.

Specialist facilities

You will experience a lively, informal environment with many possibilities to pursue your own interests:

• You will have access to the Albert Sloman Library, which houses a strong collection of books, journals, electronic resources and major archives
• The Department has its own dedicated library of specialist texts which inform and influence our research
• Free evening Open Seminars on topics relevant to psychoanalysis which are open to students, staff and members of the public.

Your future

In undertaking this course you’ll study a range of psychoanalytic concepts - applying them to individuals, relationships and organisations, which will provide you with a unique perspective of why we are the way we are, on understanding others and knowing how to relate to them, which will make you suited for further clinical training, postgraduate study in different fields, or employment.

Our future graduates may go to work in a wide range of careers, including:

• Therapeutic services
• NHS Mental Health work
• Psychoanalytic therapy
• Education
• Social Care
• Therapeutic Consultancy
• Management Consultancy
• Marketing and Public Relations
• Academia

We also work with the University’s Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

“I never expected to develop such enthusiasm and passion for my chosen subject. I have acquired and built on a range of different skills, and by the end of my first year I had obtained paid employment within two separate organisations: a community interest company in Essex and a registered charity in Suffolk.”

David Bloomfield, FdA Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisation.

Clearing entry requirements

Specific entry requirements for this course in Clearing are not published here but for most of our degree courses you will need to hold a Level 3 qualification. If you are interested in applying and have already received your results, use our Clearing application form to apply for 2022 entry and find out if you are eligible. You will be asked to provide details of your qualifications and grades.

English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall. Different requirements apply for second year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK.

Other English language qualifications may be acceptable so please contact us for further details. If we accept the English component of an international qualification then it will be included in the information given about the academic levels listed above. Please note that date restrictions may apply to some English language qualifications

If you are an international student requiring a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Course structure

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The following modules are based on the current course structure and may change in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Teaching

• Teaching takes place in relatively small seminars and fora, with a focus on group discussion
• Discussion in seminars includes both discussing other peoples’ work and discussing your own experiences in the workplace
• You also undertake supervised clinical practice, participate in skills based workshops, and teach others through presentation of theoretical readings and clinical cases

Assessment

• Your grade is made up entirely of coursework marks, including essays and reflective reports